Pachydactylus purcelli is rupicolous, occupying rocky habitats along arid river corridors throughout the semi-arid karroid regions of western South Africa and southeastern Namibia, between 400-1 800 m elevation (Bauer et al. 2006). The type locality is Touws River, Little Namaqualand, Western Cape (Boulenger 1910) and the species is common in the surrounding areas. However, there is only a single record of P. purcelli from the far west of South Africa and this, from Carolusberg, Northern Cape, 2917DB, more than 180 km from the present record (Bauer et al. 2006), remains unconfirmed. The closest confirmed record is from Calvinia, 3119BD, 120km inland from this observation.